Many top companies still emitting unsustainable levels of CO2

While big names like Unilever and Eli Lilly have earned top spots in a new sustainability ranking, on the flip side 51% of companies were found to be emitting unsustainable levels of CO2.

The purpose of the study from Climate Counts was to analyze greenhouse gas emissions of 100 companies against science-based targets that seek to limit climate change to 2o Celsius (3.6o Fahrenheit). As climate modeling has provided a “best guess” as to what it will take to reverse climate change and stabilize greenhouse gas emissions to safe levels, maintains Climate Counts, the study assesses how well companies are performing in the context of environmental thresholds.

Nearly half the 100 companies analyzed (49%) rated sustainably, with Autodesk, Unilever and Eli Lilly earning three top spots in the ranking. However, 51% of companies are emitting unsustainable levels of CO2, says Climate Counts.

Climate Counts points out that while over half the companies rated scored unsustainably, the sample set of companies chosen for the study are part of a limited universe of companies that have voluntarily disclosed their emissions publicly since 2005 through CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project).

Paul Dickinson, co-founder and executive chairman, CDP, commented: “If companies are every truly to guage their carbon performance, it is critical to understand what progress means in terms of science-based thresholds. The latest Climate Counts study is a noteworthy step toward that goal, complementing CDP’s own work in providing the only global environmental disclosure system for companies, investors and governments.”

You can download the full report here.